For Arlene White of Temecula, Calif., walking the deck of the historic USS Missouri was "a dream come true."

White and her husband, Auston, were among the hundreds of residents and visitors on hand for yesterday's public reopening of the 66-year-old battleship after its three-month, $18 million stay in drydock for maintenance and restoration.

The extensive maintenance and restoration project included refurbishment of the hull, installation of cathodic and humidity detection technology, and a fresh coat of paint, as well as installation of educational signage, tour routes and public restroom facilities. Work continues on bathroom facilities, the ship's deck and the anchor chain.

The Battleship Missouri Memorial marked the reopening with a salute to volunteers that was attended by Gov. Linda Lingle and Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard commander Capt. Gregory Thomas.

"The outpouring of support to preserve this important part of our nation's history is a tribute to the American men and women who fought with courage and pride during World War II, as well as to those who continue to follow in their footsteps," Lingle said.

The Missouri was first launched on Jan. 29, 1944, and commissioned six months later. The ship participated in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and later secured a place in history as the site of Japan's official surrender to Allied forces in World War II.

After fighting in the Korean War, the Missouri was decommissioned in 1955. It was reactivated in 1986 and used in Operation Desert Storm. It was decommissioned for good in 1992 and donated to the USS Missouri Memorial Association in 1998.

"It's alive," said memorial president Michael Carr. "You have only to walk the decks to get the sense that it's alive."

The memorial offered free admission to Hawai'i residents and military personnel yesterday. By noon, more than 500 people had signed up for one of the new, optional guided tour packages.

Arlene White said the ship's close proximity to the USS Arizona, which was sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, made for a powerful visiting experience and deepened her appreciation for the role Pearl Harbor played in the war in the Pacific.

"We'd heard about it for years but I can't imagine getting to see it," White said. "It makes you appreciate what these men did and how they lived."

Auston White, who was born on Dec. 7, 1938, said his first visit to the famed battleship was "incredible."

"It's historic," White said. "The people who served on this ship dedicated not just their careers but in some cases their lives to serving our country."

While guides ushered small groups along the footsteps of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, other visitors used tour maps to navigate the 887-foot-long ship, glancing at the new informational signage and snapping photos from the newly accessible second deck. Many took advantage of the memorial's new interactive educational offerings,.

Kent Yamaguchi of Mänoa visited the ship with his wife and son.

"It's nice to see something that played a significant part in the end of the war," he said.

Retired Army Capt. Bill Emmerson, 88, of Kailua, paid his second visit to the ship with his family.

"It looks good," he said, as he surveyed the main deck. "It takes a lot of volunteer work to do what they did."